Marathon effort
Last updated: 14th February 2008
Prescott: another challenge
I went for a run last Sunday and it was quite difficult. I did a couple of hundred metres, it took me a few minutes though!
Terry O'Connor
Quotes of the week
Former Hull, St Helens and Wakefield full-back Steve Prescott has confirmed he is to run this year's London Marathon - and he will be joined by our very own Terry O'Connor.
Prescott, who is battling a rare form of stomach cancer, raised £70,000 four months ago when he completed a 200-mile charity walk from Hull to Old Trafford.
But he is now preparing for an even bigger challenge in order to raise even more money for Christies - the hospital in Manchester where he is being treated - and the RFL Benevolent Fund/ Foundation.
Speaking to Boots 'n' All, he said: "I was a back when I was playing rugby and I didn't really like long-distance running to be honest!
"But the training has gone really well and that was the attraction first of all. But I also wanted to raise awareness of the two charities that we're running for."
Steve will be joined on the run by two close friends, former St Helens captain Chris Joynt and former Saints full-back David Lyon, who insists the team are focusing their energies on trying to reach the end of the difficult London Marathon course
He said: "As sportsmen, when you come off the back of a career you're always looking for challenges. This is one where you'd like to tick the box and say 'yeah, I've done that'. But it's also nice to say I did it for charity and for the aid of people.
"From our point of view it's about getting to the finish line and people benefiting all over. That's going to be our incentive and motivation.
Nervous
And Boots 'n' All exclusively revealed they will be joined by a fourth runner - our regular pundit Terry O'Connor.
And Terry told us he was nervous about the challenge ahead.
He said: "I got the phone call saying I'd got the place and my Adam's apple was going up and down!
"But I'm looking forward to it and it's one of those things you want to take on.
"I went for a run last Sunday and it was quite difficult. I did a couple of hundred metres, it took me a few minutes though!
"The bonus I'll get from this is helping the Benevolent Fund and running with Steve and the lads. It's for a worthwhile cause and it's something I'm delighted to do.
"And also I get to go pounding the streets and I don't have to spend as much time with the wife!"
If you want to sponsor Steve, Chris, David and Terry, visit the Steve Prescott Foundation website at www.steveprescottfund.co.uk
- Video
